Sword collection - Stolen.

Atlantia · 23rd December 2011, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cannonmn

Thanks, it was not clear to me (I'm not a sword collector) what the numbers were, you say serial numbers, I was thinking they were museum catalog numbers perhaps put on with white ink, that's how little I know. The serial no. will be rolled or stamped into the metal which is good. You are correct that the important info is the details of the stolen items, frequently missing from the usual media theft report.

I just reposted the info with link on three collector forums and two email lists here in the US as the thief will likely have to go outside UK to sell the hot items.

Hi Cannon,

I assume the numbers are the spine numbers and the collector seems to have researched each one and assigned it to it's original owner.
These spine numbers are deeply stamped into the spine up near the guard. There would be no easy way to grind them out or fill them short of careful electric welding, repolishing/renumbering them over the top. I would think that these numbers will prove too difficult to remove and be the best hope of recovery.

What an amazing collection. I'd be heartbroken to have lost it if it were mine.
Well done for spreading the word. The more people aware the greater the chance of recovery.

Best
Gene

spiral · 30th August 2012, 08:58 PM

Fascinating stuff this!

Any of the collectors here heard of any of these stolen pieces yet? Or have they disapeered into a "secret" collection somewhere? Because someone could get them cheaper than legal pieces?

As they say in Devon "Bargain"

Lots more swords stolen worlwide lately, A Japanese shop just lost yen 15,000,000 worth of katana. Loads of recent thieving in England & California to.

linky 1

for example

Who buys all these stolen swords? Do they ever show them to anyone else? What happens to them? Dont reckon there weighed in for scrap, they must end up with knowledgable collecters eventualy...

I wonder if it adds to the pleasure of owning them or dimineshes it?

Spiral

Atlantia · 31st August 2012, 08:15 AM

Hi J,

I don't know. I guess with the top list in this thread it's going to be pretty difficult for them to be broken up and sold separately as they are all individually recorded.
They should start to be picked up as they trickle onto the market. As long as the serial numbers etc aren't removed

If you google any of the names and numbers it should bring up one of the sites showing the list of stolen swords.

As for the ones in your link, well that's definately going to be more problematic.
It's a worry on several levels for sure.

30th August 2012, 08:58 PM	#2
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Fascinating stuff this! Any of the collectors here heard of any of these stolen pieces yet? Or have they disapeered into a "secret" collection somewhere? Because someone could get them cheaper than legal pieces? As they say in Devon "Bargain" Lots more swords stolen worlwide lately, A Japanese shop just lost yen 15,000,000 worth of katana. Loads of recent thieving in England & California to. linky 1 for example Who buys all these stolen swords? Do they ever show them to anyone else? What happens to them? Dont reckon there weighed in for scrap, they must end up with knowledgable collecters eventualy... I wonder if it adds to the pleasure of owning them or dimineshes it? Spiral

31st August 2012, 08:15 AM	#3
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Hi J, I don't know. I guess with the top list in this thread it's going to be pretty difficult for them to be broken up and sold separately as they are all individually recorded. They should start to be picked up as they trickle onto the market. As long as the serial numbers etc aren't removed If you google any of the names and numbers it should bring up one of the sites showing the list of stolen swords. As for the ones in your link, well that's definately going to be more problematic. It's a worry on several levels for sure.